CU's Martin Romero-Clark was one of three runners to claim an NAIA qualifying mark on Sunday.
Cavaliers Add Seven NAIA Automatic Qualifiers, One Provisional Mark at Husky Classic
Final Results of the UW Indoor Open
SEATTLE, Wash.—Making the most of the last high-profile meet before the NAIA Indoor Championships, the Concordia track team recorded seven new automatic qualifiers and one provisional mark at Husky Classic on Sunday.
Concordia will next compete at the CU Indoor/Outdoor on Feb. 21, before traveling to the NAIA Championships held in Johnson City, Tenn., March 3-5.
“We got most of the qualifiers that we were looking for today,” Concordia head coach Randy Dalzell said. “We will go after a few more next week, including our men’s distance medley relay.”
Entering athletes in an indoor 1,000-meter run for the first time in the program’s history, the Cavaliers received automatic qualifiers from Linsie Michels, Jessy Brown and Martin Romero-Clark. Michels finished fifth in the women’s 1,000 with a 2:58.72 to cross with more than a four-second buffer over the NAIA ‘A’ standard of 3:02.90 while Brown and Romero-Clark finished within strides of each other in the men’s race to gain entrance to the NAIA championships.
Brown was clocked at 2:28.19 in a fourth-place finish while Romero-Clark recorded a 2:28.65 in fifth. Picking up a provisional status entry, Cordero Cisneros finished in sixth place with a 2:32.08, just shy of the 2:31.20 ‘A’ standard.
“Jessy, Martin and Cordero ran in a quick heat,” Dalzell said. “The race sort of split up in the middle but they were able to carry through and get quality times.”
The distance and middle-distance corps also showed well in the mile and the 3,000 with Andria Sheese finishing in fourth place in the fast heat of the women’s mile with a 5:08.85 and Eric Burck crossing in 8:34.44 for third place in the men’s 3,000, both well under the automatic qualifying barrier. Both time represented personal records and stand No. 2 in their respective events on the Concordia all-time indoor lists.
“It was a good under-distance race that should give Andria some additional confidence in her speed and her ability to finish. She has really developed well throughout the season,” Dalzell said.
The Cavaliers also posted a pair of auto marks in the shot put with Christine Leonard setting a huge personal record with a 42-9 3/4 heave for the women’s program and Eric Whalen improving his career best and the school record by more than a foot with a 51-11 1/4.
Leonard finished in second place behind teammate Katherine Tripp. Already qualified with a 48-0 1/2 toss, Tripp had the best throw of the day out of 19 competitors with a 45-4 1/4 effort.
In the short sprints, Joyce Oniah scored a pair of career bests with an 8.23 in the 60 and a 26.74 in the 200 and Chris Grever knocked 40 seconds off an indoor best in the 3,000 by finishing in 9:00.68.
Providing other top finishes, DeAndre Burton finished in second place in the long jump with a 45-10 3/4 and Greg Schultz was the runner-up in the weight throw with a 47-1.
Behind Whalen, Leon Carl and Jesse Staub placed second and third to give the Cavs a 1-2-3 sweep in the shot.
Concordia Women’s Results: 60: 2. (Heat 2) Stephanie Persaud, 8.23; 2. (Heat 3) Joyce Oniah, 8.08. 200: 1. (Heat 15) Joyce Oniah, 26.74; 3. (Heat 16) Stephanie Persaud, 26.86. 1,000: 5. Linsie Michels, 2:58.71. Mile: 4. (Heat 3) Andria Scheese, 5:08.85. High Jump: T14. Danielle Fergason, 4-11 (1.50m). Pole Vault: T5. (Flight 1) Kendra Jantzi, 9-0 1/4 (2.75m). Shot: 1. (Flight 2) Katherine Tripp, 45-4 1/4 (13.82m); 2. (Flight 2) Kristine Leonard, 42-9 3/4 (13.05m).
Concordia Men’s Results: 400: 3. (Heat 13) Jordan Hamblen, 51.51. 1,000: 4. (Heat 2J Jessy Brown, 2:28.19; 5. (Heat 2) Martin Romero-Clark, 2:28.65; 6. (Heat 2) Cordero Cisneros, 2:32.08. 3,000: 3. (Heat 3) Eric Burck, 8:34.44; 15. (Heat 3) Chris Grever, 9:00.68. 60 Hurdles: 3. (Heat 2) Chris Wilson, 9.35. Triple Jump: 2. (Flight 2) 45-10 3/4 (13.99m). Shot: 1. (Flight 3) Eric Whalen, 51-11 1/4 (15.83m); 2. (Flight 3) Leon Carl, 49-3 1/2 (15.02m); 3. (Flight 3) Jesse Staub, 48-5 1/2 (14.77m); 12. (Flight 3) Derek Furgason, 40-7 3/4, 12.39m). Weight Throw: 2. (Flight 2) Greg Schultz, 57-1 (17.40m); 6. (Flight 2) Michael Wright, 51-8 1/4 (15.75m)
New NAIA Automatic Qualifiers (6)
Women
1,000: Linsie Michels (Salem, Ore./Cascade H.S.)
Mile: Andria Scheese (Oregon City, Ore./Oregon City H.S.)
Shot: Christine Leonard (Rathdrum, Idaho/Lakeland H.S.)
Men
1,000: Jessy Brown (Gresham, Ore./Reynolds H.S.)
1,000: Martin Romero-Clark (Portland, Ore./Benson H.S.)
3,000: Eric Burck (Ephrata, Wash./Ephrata H.S.)
Shot: Eric Whalen (Tualatin, Ore./La Salle Prep)
New NAIA Provisional Qualifiers (1)
Men
1,000: Cordero Cisneros (Grandview, Wash./Grandview H.S.)